Extensible bracelet clasp



Jail- 26, 1943- D. 1.. JACOBOWITZ 2,309,510

EXTENSIBLE BRACELET CLASP Filed Oct. 21, 1941 INVENTOR DAVID L JACOBOWITZ BY D4 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 26, 1943 EXTENSIBLE. BRACELET CLASP David L. Jacobowitz, New York, N. Y., assignor to Jacoby-Bender, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 21, 1941, Serial No. 415,897 I.

Claims.

This invention relates to an extensible clasp and more particularly to an improved extensible bracelet clasp.

A well known type of extensible bracelet comprises a plurality of sections hinged one to the I clasp of this nature is disclosed in the patent to Joseph M. Bender No. 2,097,055, granted October 26, 1937, in which the parts of the clasp are so organized that the closing and opening (folding and unfolding) and the wrist adjusting (contracting and expanding) of the clasp sections may be effected with great facility and simplicity. By means of that construction, the control for opening (and closing) and for wrist adjusting.

the clasp sections is localized at one region of the clasp, and the expanding and unfolding of the sections are effected by a simple finger .depressing operation. By the provision of that construction, it became unnecessary to provide means at different parts of the clasp for unlocking the same (to accomplish expanding and unfolding of the sections), or to employ a fingernail of the user for either or both of such unlocking means, as was common in clasps of the prior art. The prime object of the present invention is the provision of a still further improved extensible bracelet clasp of this nature.

The extensible bracelet clasp of the present invention is characterized by and possesses the following actions or operations:

(1) A pull exerted endwise on a section of the clasp such as the top clasp section, which pull is always incident to the act of sliping the bracelet assembly off the hand of the user, will automatically unlock the clasp, the parts automatically moving to the expanded and unfolded condition;

(2) When the bracelet is slipped back over the users hand to wrist position, the clasp .parts automatically assume both the contracted and folded condition, it being then only necessary to apply pressure to the top clasp section to snap the parts to locked position;

(3) The clasp contracts to wrist fitting position by resilient or elastic action and similarly resiliently adjusts itself in use to wrist movement; the bracelet thereby resiliently assumes and maintains in use a snug and yielding fit on the wrist.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention is directed to the extensible bracelet clasp combination sought to be defined in the appended claims and described in the following vspecification. The specification is accompanied by a drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a view showing a bracelet with a clasp of the present invention on the hand of the user;

' Figure 2 is a perspective view thereof depicting how the parts automatically move to the expanded and unfolded condition in the act of slipping thebracelet off the user's hand;

Figure 3 is a. cross-sectional view of parts thereof taken in cross-section in the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view thereof showing the parts in fully opened condition;

Figure 5 is a perspective view thereof depicting the manner in which the parts move to closed position when the bracelet is slipped back over the users hand;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view thereof showing how the clasp parts automatically assume both the contracted and folded condition when returned to wrist position, it being then only necessary to apply pressure to the top clasp section to snap the parts in locked position;

Figure 'I is a similar view showing the parts when snapped to locked position; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged view taken in crosssectlon in the plane of the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

In its essence the extensible clasp of thepresent invention comprises, having reference first to Figures 1, 2, and 5 to 7 of the drawing, foldable sections generally designated as A comprising a plurality of sections hinged together to fold and unfold for closing and opening the clasp, and a slidable section generally designated as B which is slidable in one of the hinge sections for adjusting the clasp to a contracted or expanded condition, resilient means generally designated as C acting on the slidable section B for resiliently moving and holding the same in a contracted condition (Figure 5), and mating locking means generally designated as D which engage when the sections are in folded and contracted condition (Figures 5 to '7) and which are disengaged when the slidable section B is moved against the said resilient means C to an extreme expanded condition (see particularly Figure 2).

With this construction it will be at once evident that when a pull is exerted endwise on a section of the clasp, as, for example, at the point i (Figure 1) in the direction indicated by the arrow II, which pull is incident to the act of slipping the bracelet from the users hand, the clasp will automatically unlock, the parts automatically moving to the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. By supplying the foldable sections ,A with a resilient means to return the same to folded condition, it will then be evident that all the parts of the clasp will automatically assume both the contracted and folded condition shown in Figure 6 of the drawing when the bracelet is merely slipped back over the user's hand to wrist position, and that by then applying pressure to the top clasp section of the assembly the clasp will snap to the locked position shown in Figure 7. Due to the resilient action on the slidable section B, it will be evident that the clasp contracts to the wrist fitting position shown in Figure 1 by resilient or elastic action and similarly adjusts itself in use to movements of the wrist; the bracelet thereby resiliently assuming and maintaining in use a snug and yielding fit on the wrist.

From these principles of construction and operation it will be apparent that the invention may be applied to various types or structures of clasps. For example, the foldable sections may comprise two or more sections, the slidable section may be associated with either the top or the bottom of the foldable sections, and the mating locking means may be between anyone of the unfolding sections and the slidable section. In my present preferred form of structure I employ a clasp of the type shown in the said patent to Bender No. 2,097,055 of October 26, 1937, and this will now be described below in detail.

In this preferred form, the foldable sections A comprise a top section 20, a bottom section 22 and a connecting section 24, the said sections being hinged as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, and the slidable section B comprises a single section 26 freely slidable in opposite directions in the bottom section 22. These sections may be made from suitable sheet metal stock and are given a suitable curve contour so that they may nest together and fit the wrist of the hand.

The connecting section 24 comprises a sheet metal strip formed at one end with the hinge pintle 28 and at the other end with the hinge beads 30. The top section is made of sheet metal stock bent to provide the depending side walls 32, the said depending walls being pierced at one end (34) for receiving the hinge pintle 28. The free end of this top section 20 is turned or beaded as at 36 to receive the end bracelet link. The bottom section 22, also made of sheet metal, is formed with the upstanding side walls 38, 38, the top ends of which are inturned as at 40, 40. These walls 38 and the inturned ends 40 define a guide channel for the sliding section 26 and also define walls which telescope with the depending walls 32 of the top section 20 so that the top and bottom sections form a housing for the other parts of the clasp (see Figures 6 and 7). One end of this bottom section 22 is formed to provide supports 42, 42 for the hinge pintle 44 which is received by the beads 30, which hinge pintle carries between the beads a coil spring 46, the opposite ends of which engage parts of the sections 22 and 24 see particularly Figure 3), this spring thereby acting on the foldable sections to urge the same to folded condition.

The slidable section 26, also made of sheet metal. is formed with inturned sides 48, 48 (see particularly Figure 8) whichride on elevations or tracks 66, 66 which are formed at the juncture anchoring ends of this spring the section 22 is formed with an end abutment 54 and the sliding section 26 is formed with an end abutment 56. The sliding section 26 is finished by provid-'- ing the free end thereof with a roll or bead 56 for reception of a bracelet end link.

The mating locking means D simply comprises a projecting part in the top section 26 and a part of said slidable section 26 acting as a bolt for the projecting part of the top section 26. In the specific embodiment shown, the projecting part comprises one or more relatively short fingers 60, 60 which project downwardly from and are turned inwardly of the depending walls 32, 32 of the top section. To permit the interengagement between these projections 60, 66 and the sides of the slidable section 26, the bottom section 22 is provided with the cutouts 62, 62, which cutouts receive or dovetail with the said projections 60, 60.

The structure, the mode of operation or use, and the advantages of the extensible clasp of the invention will now be apparent. In normal use, the bracelet is locked in folded condition contracted to fit the user's wrist as indicated by Figure 1 of the drawing. The contraction is effected elastically or resiliently by the spring C housed between the slidable section 26 and the bottom section 22, which spring acts between the slidable section and the bottom section for normally holding the slidable section in the contracted condition as best shown in Figure .5 of the drawing. The locking of the parts in folded condition is effected by the interengagement of the locking fingers 66, 66 of the top section 20 and the side edges of the slidable section 26 as is best shown by reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8. To move the parts to the expanded and unfolded condition, the bracelet assembly is merely slipped off the hand of the user. By doing so a pull is exerted endwise on the top section 26 in the direction of the arrow I I of Figure 1, and this pull causes the foldable sections A to move away from the slidable section B, or, as viewed from the left of Figure 2, causes the slidable section B (26) to move to expanded position against the compression action of the spring C. When this movement reaches the position shown in Figure 2, the slidable section 26 assumes the unbolting position, or viewed otherwise, the projections or fingers 60, 60 become disengaged from the slidable section. Continued pull (continued slipping of the bracelet assembly oil the hand) causes the clasp parts to move thereby to the open expanded condition shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, continued movement resulting in moving these parts to the fully open condition shown in Figure 4. Thus, the clasp is automatically unlocked, the parts automatically moving to both the expanded and unfolded conditions. When the bracelet is thereafter again slipped over the user's hand to wrist position, the clasp parts automatically assume both the contracted and folded condition, the slidable section 26 being caused to move to contracted condition by the compression spring C, and the folding sections A being caused to move to folded condition by the action of the spring 46. The parts then assume the position shown in Figure 6 of the drawing, the projecting fingers 60, 60 engaging the tops of the sides of the slidable section 26. It is then only necessary to apply pressure to the top section of the clasp and by doing so, the projecting fingers 60, 60 yield outwardly due to the resilience of the walls 32, 32 ofthe top section and snap into position under the side edges of the slidable section 26 into a position best shown in Figure 8 of the drawing, this being the locking position. The parts are, therefore, locked in folded condition and contracted to the position which fits the users Wrist.. Due to the resilient action on the slidable section 26 and due to the fact that this action is always effective in use, the bracelet not only assumes but maintains in use a snug and yielding fit on the wrist.

It will be apparent that many changes may be made in the construction of the clasp without departing from the principles of the invention defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1.-An extensible clasp comprising a plurality of sections hinged together to fold and to unfold for closing and opening the clasp, another section freely slidable in opposite directions in one of said hinged sections for adjusting the clasp to a contracted or expanded condition, resilient means acting on the slidable section for resiliently holding the slidable section in a contracted condition, the said slidable section and the other of said hinged sections having located and arranged thereon mating locking elements which engage when the sections are in a folded and contracted condition, and which are disengaged when the slidable section is moved against the said resilient means to an extreme expanded condition.

2. An extensible clasp comprising a plurality of sections hingedtogether to fold and to unfold for closing and opening the clasp, the said sections including a top section and a bottom section, another section freely slidable in opposite directions in the bottom section for adjusting the clasp to a contracted or expanded condition, resilient means acting on. the slidable section for resiliently holding the slidable section in a contracted condition, the said slidable section and the top section having located and arranged thereon mating locking elements which engage when the sections are in a folded and contracted condition, and which are disengaged when the slidable section is moved against the said resilient means to an extreme expanded condition,

3. An extensible clasp comprising a plurality of sections hinged together to fold and to unfold for closing and opening the clasp, a resilient connection between said sections operating to urge the same to folded condition, another section freely slidable in opposite d-irections in one of said hinged sections for adjusting the clasp to a contracted or expanded condition, resilient means acting on the slidable section for resiliently holding the slidable section in a contracted condition, the said slidable section and the other of said hinged sections having located and arranged thereon mating locking elements which engage when the sections are in a folded and contracted condition, and which are disengaged when the slidable section is moved against the said resilient means to an extreme expanded condition. I

4; An extensible clasp comprising a plurality of sections hinged together to fold and to unfold for closing and opening the clasp, another section freely slidable in opposite directions in one of said hinged sections for adjusting the clasp to a contracted or expanded condition, resilient means acting on the slidable section for resiliently holding the slidable section in a contracted condition, means for locking the sections in folded condition comprising a part in the other of said hinged sections engaged by a part of said slidable'section when the sections are in a folded and contracted condition, the'said parts being arranged so as to be disengaged when the slidable section is moved against the said resilient means to an extreme expanded condition.

5. An extensible clasp comprising a top section, a bottom section and a connecting section hinged together to fold and to unfold for closing and opening the clasp, another section freely slidable in opposite'directions in the bottom section for adjusting the clasp to a contracted or expanded condition, resilient means acting between the slidable section and the said bottom section for resiliently holding the slidable section in a contracted condition, means for locking 'the'sections in folded condition comprising a relatively short finger in the top section engaged by a part of said slidable section when the sections are in a folded and contracted condition, the said finger being located near an end of the top section so as to be disengaged when the slidable section is moved against the said resilient means to an extreme expanded condition; the sections being then freely movable to unfolded condition.

DAVE) L. JACOBOWITZ. 

